Ultrasonic array transducer, associated circuit and methods of making the same

Abstract

In some embodiments, circuits for ultrasonic transducer element arrays are provided. In some embodiments, a circuit described herein comprises a first layer for receiving a transducer element array, a ground layer comprising at least one ground disposed over the first layer and a plurality of first vias corresponding to transducer elements of the array, the first vias extending through the first layer to the at least one ground and comprising first ends for receiving ground electrodes of the transducer elements and second ends electrically connected to the ground.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic transducer system comprising:
 an array comprising a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements, the piezoelectric transducer elements comprising individual positive electrodes and individual ground electrodes; and 
 a circuit coupled to the array, the circuit comprising a first layer for receiving the array, a layer comprising at least one ground disposed above the first layer and a plurality of first vias corresponding to piezoelectric transducer elements of the array, the first vias extending through the first layer to the at least one ground and comprising first ends electrically connected to the individual ground electrodes of the piezoelectric transducer elements and second ends electrically connected to the ground. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit further comprises second vias corresponding to piezoelectric transducer elements of the array, the second vias extending through the first layer and comprising first ends electrically coupled to positive electrodes of the piezoelectric transducer elements and second ends electrically connected to one or more traces in electrical communication with circuitry external to the circuit. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one second via is associated with each piezoelectric transducer element of the array. 
     
     
       4. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one first via is associated with each piezoelectric transducer element of the array. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 1 , wherein the array comprises N transducer groups in an axial direction with each group comprising M piezoelectric transducer elements. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 5 , wherein N is selected from the group consisting of 64, 96, 128, 192, 256, 320, 384, 448 and 512 and M is selected from the group consisting of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one first via is provided for each of the N transducer groups of the array, the first end of the first via electrically connected to a ground electrode for the M piezoelectric transducer elements of the group and the second end of the first via electrically connected to the continuous ground. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 7 , wherein second vias are provided for each of the M piezoelectric transducer elements of the N transducer groups. 
     
     
       9. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 5 , wherein the array is a curved array. 
     
     
       10. The ultrasonic transducer system of  claim 5 , wherein the array is a Tightly curved array.